The long-drawn pandemic kept us all indoors, and we ran out of ideas for an indoor fun time with the family. Restless kids and overworked parents being locked in a house for an extended period of time...not exactly the best combination!
But we learnt, we adapted, and we created new ways to see the silver linings. While we still search google for “indoor activities for kids”, may some of the inventiveness remain even in our new normals. Here are more suggestions (and twists to the common ideas) for you to enjoy together with the family within the safety of your house. We all need a good dose of family fun time to keep that bond strong and the mood at home light!
Food and Culture
Many of us had probably mastered the culinary skills needed to open a cafe with the number of meals prepared while being housebound. Kids can be great little helpers in the kitchen. You could even go all out and have a monthly culture day! Make sushi, dress up in kimono robes, and use chopsticks to enjoy your dinner together as a family. The options are endless.
Plus, it makes food you prepared more fun.
Bring on the Childhood Games
Time to take out those dusty old-school board games from the storeroom! Remember the Monopoly set being left out on the table for a few days because it just never seems to end? Apart from some of these games keeping the kids busy for a loooong time (hooray!), board games allow for family fun and learning to take place together.
If you're up for a more active kind of game, Twister will have the whole family collapsing in laughter together.
Don't forget those hand-clapping games that we all grew up with as well! Perfect for younger kids, chant with your kids as you clap to rhythms and rhymes. Here are some classic hand-clapping instructional videos and lyrics for you to jog your memory!
Get Crafty and Imaginative
With the amount of online shopping we have engaged in, it is likely that many of our houses will have boxes and packaging lying around somewhere! Reuse and recycle packaging. Get your kids to zoom around cardboard cars. Create an indoor obstacle course together- boxes as tunnels, strings to crawl under, bubble wrap to jump on.
Let your kids' imagination go wild. If they need some help with craft ideas, here is a useful list of recyclable crafts ideas categorized by material types!
Recreate Favorite Outings
While it is better now, we all miss our impromptu Covid free weekend family trips. Brainstorm ideas together on ways to recreate your favorite 'excursion' safely at home. If you are a family of movie buffs, set a date for cinema day. Make popcorn boxes, get the popcorn popping, and maybe even set up a 'ticketing booth' for these family-friendly movies. Pull the blinds down and voila! The entire family gets a comfortable and safe cinematic experience at home.
Prefer visiting the pool? Invest in an inflatable pool and let the kids have fun splashing around. If you're up for it, join in the water fun. If not, as long as your kids are old enough for independent water play, you have just bought yourself a reasonably long period of undisturbed time.
The best part of this is that our kids engage in project-based learning. Lots of fun preparations to be done together until the big 'excursion’ day!
Keep Them Moving
The easiest way to bring on the laughter and giggles is through physical movement! Even with limited space, families can have fun with active games like the classic freeze dance, Simon says, scavenger hunt, or a makeshift tent in the middle of the living room. If you have a larger space and feel like you are up for some boisterous games, here is a list of games to try at home.
Balloons are also a great staple to have in the house. There are countless ways balloons can be used for fun together as a family. Split the family into teams and have a balloon baseball game, or simply see how long the family can keep the balloon in the air together.
And that's our round-up of family fun time suggestions for you. Here's to more quality family fun time while staying safe indoors!
By Elaine Yeoh
Elaine is a mummy of two who moved from the financial world to become an early childhood educator. She loves traveling, books and her cup of tea to unwind after a long day of diapers, school runs and pretend play.